Patent would essentially make the Smart Cover even smarter.

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AppleInsider reports that Apple has applied for a patent to potentially bring added functionality to future Smart Covers, such as the ability to charge an iOS device.

The patent is titled “Integrated inductive charging in protective cover” and describes a tablet case—most likely the iPad Smart Cover—with an inductive power transmitter. From the patent:

In the described embodiments, the body portion includes an inductive power transmitter arranged to wirelessly pass power to a corresponding inductive power receiver unit disposed within the tablet device by inductively coupling, at least a first magnetic element, and at least a second magnetic element used to secure the body portion to the display in a closed configuration.

The Smart Cover would then charge the iPad when the lid is shut and would be recharged as the iOS device is plugged into a USB power source. The use of magnets within Apple's Smart Cover would help facilitate this kind of wireless charging.

While this isn't the first rumor of Apple’s foray into wireless charging, a patent is still just a patent. Whether Apple will do anything with it in the future remains to be seen.

I thought wireless charging was something that people didn't want, and if you had to plug in something to provide the electricity to charge that it was a complete waste of time? I don't know what to believe anymore..

In reading the patent the cover is the transmitter. The cover has to be affixed in the closed position to the device in order to work and charge said device. So the net result is you've moved the power cable a couple millimeters and managed not to be able to use the device while charging to boot?

Wouldn't it make sense to have the cover be the receiver instead of the transmitter? There's already 2 contact points to the iPad that could be used as +/- to charge from a wireless transmitter built into or put on top of a desk / bedside table. I thought the biggest disadvantage of wireless charging was all the space the magnets took in the device. It that was offloaded to a Smart Cover that was easy to remove and provided additional uses it could be cool. As written in this patent, not so cool.

I think the odds of Apple moving to wireless charging and using a standard that already exists is pretty slim. More likely we will see a proprietary standard for apple that will further lock people into the eco-system. It is the same issue with apps (on every eco-system, not just apple), where once people have invested money they don't want to go elsewhere because then that money is wasted.

If you are going to make the iPad wireless chargeable, why would you need to plug it in at all?

The way the article reads, you have to plug the pad in to power, and that recharges the pad and cover. If the pad could receive wireless power, the pad could simply charge the cover at the same time without any wires needed.

Can anyone explain how this is at all preferable to having a direct wired connection between the smart-cover-containing-an-expanded-battery?

If you just told me that they were going to put an inductive charging coil in the smart cover, such that a smart cover added to an iPad made the iPad inductive-charging-capable, that makes inherent sense (though, as others stated, is a little too obvious to reasonably qualify for a patent). The version described here and at Apple Insider, whereby a thing directly attached to my device uses inductive charging to transfer power? Why? I can't find any immediately available numbers, but isn't inductive charging still inherently less efficient (although better than it used to be)?

Isn't it that you plug in the iPad, which is charging via USB, and the cover itself is an inductive charger for the iPhone/iPod you put on it? That makes sense and I see the need for it right now. At night, there's a competition for the iDevice charging cable in my room. Do we charge the iPad? Or one of the iPods? This would let us charge everything off one cable.

This has to be the laziest patent I've seen from Apple in a long time. This is literally one thing that has already existed for a long time plus another thing that has already existed for a long time combined in a completely obvious way.

I mean, come on. At least UI gestures and rounded rectangles took some creative effort.

None of those are what this patent is. In the patent, the cover is the source of the power, not the receiver.

Having said that, I'm not at all clear (i) that it means this is patentable or (ii) that there is any usefulness in this. I'm just saying that the examples you've shown are not actually comparable to the patent.

Can anyone explain how this is at all preferable to having a direct wired connection between the smart-cover-containing-an-expanded-battery?

I imagine it would be really hard to fold a smart-cover-containing-an-expanded-battery.

Last I checked, you don't fold smart covers anywhere except their pre-determined fold-lines. And batteries are composed of cells, which could probably fit in the space between the folds...

Even that aside, I'm just trying to understand what I'm reading at AppleInsider and here. If there's no battery in the cover, then... again, what is this? Because they seem to be going out of their way to say that this is not the obvious thing that everyone seems to be assuming.

From the source article:

AppleInsider wrote:

Instead of sourcing power from a stationary dock, Apple's invention calls for a tablet case, or more specifically an iPad Smart Cover, to hold the inductive power transmitter. In some embodiments, an internal battery is disposed within the case, basically creating an "on-the-go" wireless charger.

None of those are what this patent is. In the patent, the cover is the source of the power, not the receiver.

Having said that, I'm not at all clear (i) that it means this is patentable or (ii) that there is any usefulness in this. I'm just saying that the examples you've shown are not actually comparable to the patent.

Because if it's not patented it's just not worth the trouble. Let's patent the heck out of everything. It's for the greater good.

Plus, it employs a lot of lawyers. And that is always good because without lawyers the world will end. To help pay the lawyers, we can divert resources from other projects like Google Labs. I'd rather see companies discontinue projects like Google Labs and use that money to pay for patent lawyers because as everyone knows without patents there would be no innovation.

But it's not the same. The Powermat things, if I remember correctly, use a case/whatever as a receiver with the transmitter pad plugged in wherever. You put the the receiver on the transmitter and it charges whatever the receiver is attached to.

As described in the patent:

Quote:

In the described embodiments, the body portion includes an inductive power transmitter arranged to wirelessly pass power to a corresponding inductive power receiver unit disposed within the tablet device by inductively coupling, at least a first magnetic element, and at least a second magnetic element used to secure the body portion to the display in a closed configuration.

The iDevice has the receiver built-in to it, and the case is the transmitter. While Apple deserves criticism for many things they do, there's a lot of misinformation here (which seems to make up most of the Apple hate on the web). Also, while the Powermat's aren't that bulky (for the iPhone, I don't think they make an iPad version), the illustration provided shows Apple's flexible case, which would be a relatively new thing (for iDevices).

Besides, everything now is a relative guess because all this is is a patent. I could be wrong, but I don't think the right to exclude applies retroactively. Either way, it doesn't patent wireless charging by itself.

While I have no idea, I would presume that only Powermat branded transmitters/receivers work with each other. This patent would be the same for Apple, and because it's built-in to the devices, the license for use can be sold to third-party manufacturers who want to build "official" branded wireless charging cases, and would make things a bit more uniform for customers. Also, I don't think Powermat or any other conumer wireless charger is flexible (I wouldn't be surprised if they existed in some form though).

You don't have to like it or Apple, but it hasn't even been authorized by the USTPO yet and has only been filed.

If I am wrong, please let me know and I will bite my tongue when I return. EDIT: Maybe "remove foot from my mouth" is better. I totally took that saying the wrong way... and subsequently had my foot in my mouth... I think.

In still other embodiments, ambient power gathering devices, such as solar cells, can be used to gather ambient power (such as sunlight) to be stored internally in the flap for later inductive transfer.

I'm pretty sure there is no existing

(a) tablet cover(b) that folds to make a tablet stand,(c) puts the tablet to sleep (d) and charges via solar power(e) all at the same time.

But hey, let's not let the facts about a patent APPLICATION THAT HASN'T EVEN BEEN GRANTED get in the way of Apple hate.

I thought wireless charging was something that people didn't want, and if you had to plug in something to provide the electricity to charge that it was a complete waste of time? I don't know what to believe anymore..

There's two thoughts to it: an inductive charger allows the device to not have to be plugged in. Leave the charge pad in whatever convenient location and when you need to charge your device drop it on the pad. There's no benefit for people who religiously unplug their charger when the phone's done charging, but for everyone else it's much less fuss over the long run.

The second criticism comes from the fact that due to physics the amount of current induced in the charged device is less than the amount of current pushed through the induction mechanism. There's a loss there and if the inductive device requires a conversion of the AC outlet power to DC in order to drive the induction then they are two losses going on.

thickslab wrote:

I'm pretty sure there is no existing

(a) tablet cover(b) that folds to make a tablet stand,(c) puts the tablet to sleep (d) and charges via solar power(e) all at the same time.

But hey, let's not get in the way of Apple hate.

So now it's novel to place a magnetic coil and power plug within a foldable piece of plastic?